Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen
6:09 PM
Like so many girls, I decided to read Sense and Sensibility
after reading (and loving) Pride and Prejudice.
Unfortunately, the first time I read it, Sense and Sensibility felt like a bucket of cold water.
Sense and sensibility's sad tones and tricky situations took me by surprise. And don't get me started on the male characters. Willoughby, Edward and Col. Brandon are complex and troubled - not your average romantic-comedy hero as well.
But after a second reading I began appreciating the book more. You just can't go into it expecting a light hearted commedy. For that, go to Emma.
The title relates to the two main sisters, Marianne and Elinor, who have quite opposite dispositions. Marianne is extremely sentimental and romantic while Elinor is more rational and introspective.
Both of them will have to struggle to find love and happiness.
Something unique about Sense and Sensibility is how well the characters are constructed. Notice how we don’t
actually hate the antagonists. I, for one, felt sympathy towards Lucy, Elinor’s rival. Lucy seems to be just like
Elinor: a girl trying to figure out how she can successfully marry the love of
her life.
The characters have this perfect mixture of flaw and virtue. At every scene we wonder who's being smart, Elinor or Marianne. Many times we can't help but to understand them and be on their sides, even when they sabotage themselves.
This is probably what makes the novel less entertaining, but also more complex and demanding.than Pride and Prejudice
Every Jane Austen novel is a lesson in relationships. But be prepared for a difficult lesson with Sense and
Sensibility. In theory, we should balance both sides (sense and sensibility). Now, If the ending backs this up, if the ending is really a happy one, is up to the reader to decide.*
What do you think about Sense and Sensibility? How does it compare to other Jane Austen novels?
Images from FanPop. These are from a great movie adaptation with Emma Thompson and a young Kate Winslet. I recommend reading the book first before watching it, though. The movie focuses too much on the two sisters and doesn’t develop the motives of Col. Brandon, for instance, and even redeems Edward’s faults.
* You didn't ask me, but I'll tell you anyhow: I'm not sure how happy the ending is. But then again I hate that Willoughby. Every time I read his name I hear “will it be?”. Perhaps I'm a little Sensibility myself.
(This is the 3rd book in my Classics Club Challenge. Click here for the full list with the other books in this challenge, plus their reviews.)
4 comments
I began reading Sense and Sensibility a couple of days ago, precisely because I liked Pride and Prejudice so much (and also was in need of a break from thrillers/horror books). I see it's a good thing that I don't remember the film very well.
ReplyDeleteI must say I was bit hesitant to read Sense and Sensibility precisely because of what you said about it being a bit heavier than Pride and Prejudice, not being so entertaining, even exciting - since I kind of need that in a book to keep me going, especially when I'm not on vacation. In fact, I had Emma in my hands and was torn between buying the too.
So I have only one question for you: can we connect to the romantic relationships in it?
What a coincidence you're reading Sense and Sensibility now!
ReplyDeleteYours is a tricky question. I would say yes, we can connect to the romantic relationships, but I think that since the two sisters respond to situations in such different ways, readers might not connect to the female characters, you know? You connect to what's happening to them, but you think "oh, I wouldn't have done that".
So, it depends. Some people connect more with romantic scenarios like the ones in Pride and Prejudice. Not everybody connects with more realistic, less dreamy scenarios like the ones in Sense and Sensibility.
Really hope I didn't spoil the story or anything, but if S&S feels like a difficult reading, I suggest going for Emma, which is more entertaining (and my favorite Austen novel). xx
Oh, boy, which one do I like better? Well, I love them both, but I really like the character of Elinor, and since she has a much closer personality to mine than Lizzie Bennet, I lean toward Sense and Sensibility.
ReplyDeleteit is indeed a difficult choice, they are such great novels! I used to think I was like Elinor, but I guess that was just wishful thinking on my part. ;) xx
DeleteThanks for commenting! Do come back because I usually reply to comments here.